State Legislators Talk Again Of Fau-fiu Merger

TALLAHASSEE — The specter of merging South Florida`s two public universities is being raised in the House again this year -- despite a state commission`s recommendation that the idea be dropped.

House Appropriations Chairman Sam Bell said Tuesday a merger plan for Boca Raton-based Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University in Dade County should surface publicly in committee within a week. Bell, D- Ormond Beach, favors merger of the two schools and has been promoting it for the past several years.

``We are talking about it,`` Bell said. ``It might bubble up in the next week to 10 days.``

Asked who is behind the new merger push, Bell replied, ``I`m not at liberty to say. But let`s say I`m interested.``

If the idea gets anywhere in the House, however, it faces a rocky road in the Senate where merger is staunchly opposed by President Harry Johnston, D- West Palm Beach.

``I will fight it,`` Johnston said. ``I am opposed to the merger.``

Besides, Johnston added, the idea is opposed by University Chancellor Charles Reed and Gov. Bob Graham.

State lawmakers last year asked the Postsecondary Education Commission to study the merger proposal. After several hearings, the commission recommended against melding the two schools, which operate a joint program in Broward County.

Indeed, the state planning group decided in January that the merger would not only fail to work, it also could become a bureaucratic nightmare. Since then, commission members and university representatives have been working to put the merger idea to rest.

The study was requested after a growing number of lawmakers voiced concerns that the schools were offering overlapping programs and were failing to meet the needs of Broward students. The commission`s studies called those fears unfounded.

``I see nothing to be gained by making the system bigger,`` FAU attorney and lobbyist Len Klatt said of the politically explosive idea. ``From Stuart to Key West is too much ground for one university to cover. But no doubt (Sam) Bell is serious. He told us that sooner or later he wants to see some change in the Southeast Plan structure.``

Some local legislators, especially in Broward, have indicated concern over the lack of major funding for a strong university presence in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

The Southeast Plan, developed by the Board of Regents, calls for a 10-year expansion of facilities and programs offered in the tri-county area by FAU and FIU. This year the state has recommended that $6 million be spent on program expansion and $21 million on new buildings. But the House budget calls for $3.2 million in new program money, with the Senate expected to come in slightly higher.

``I don`t think merger talk will ever subside -- at least until we know what the Southeast Plan firms up to be,`` said Rep. Fred Lippman, D-Hollywood. ``There will be a continual effort to seek to create a flagship university in the south end of the state. Some people believe the way to accomplish this is by merger.``